Lid and actuating mechanism therefor



May 8 1951 G. s. BRETNEY 2,552,397

LID AND ACTUATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 15, 1949 Afr/ys.

Patented May 8, 1951 OFFICE LID AND ACTUATING MECHANISM THEREFOR George S. Bretney, Covington, Ky.

Application August 15, 1949, Serial No. 110,381

6 Claims.

This invention relates to lids or covers for tumblers, drinking glasses, preserve and jelly glasses and the like, provided with a support and operating mechanism for the lids or covers so arranged and constructed that the assembly may be removably attached to the aforementioned articles, and by means of the operating mechanism the lid or cover may be moved from a position in which the tumblers are `covered to an uncovered position.

An object of the invention is to provide a support and operating mechanism for a lid or cover adapted for the purpose above set forth, which is so designed that the lid is normally urged to closed position over a tumbler or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lid and support and operating mechanism for a lid which is so arranged that the lid may be swung or rotated to uncovered position by=apply ing finger pressure to the operating mechanism, as when the tumbler is taken in one hand and squeezed thereby in a manner similar to the usual or normal way in which a glass or tumbler is held in ones hand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lid, and support and operating mechanism therefor, that is simple in construction, easily assembled and adapted for quantity production at low cost.

The above stated and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a lid, lid support and actuating mechanism embodying a form of the invention as applied to a tumbler;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lid support and actuating mechanism, the lid being removed; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are front and rear views in elevation of the structure -shown in Fig. 3.

Throughout the drawings and the specification like reference characters indicate like parts.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a tumbler or glass I is shown to lwhich an assembly comprising a lid 2, and support and operating mechanism 3 for the lid, is removably attached. Lid 2 isV shown as being essentially like a circular disc having an arm 4 extending laterally from the rim of the disc. The disc or lid is pivotally secured by a pin or rivet 5 to the support, the pin passing through arm 4 approximately at a point on the disc where a circle, corresponding to the periphery of the disc, would cut across the arm.

The support and operating mechanism comprises preferably a U-shaped member 6 having a spring clamp l, of substantially C-shaped secured to the lower portion of the inner leg thereof, and a downwardly directed hook 8 at its upper end.

lll

Hook 8 is adapted to hang over the lip of the tumbler and spring clamp I is designed to be sprung over the tumbler and so as to partially embrace the same. Thus the U-shaped member is supported on the tumbler at the top by hook 8 and the lower end thereof is held in contact with the tumbler by the spring clamp 1.

The upper end of the inner leg of member 6 is provided with a rearwardly extending shelf or ilange I0. This iiange overlies the upper end of the outer leg of member 6, and lies under lid arm 4. Flange Il) is provided with a guide slot I l disposed at substantially right angles to the legs of member 6. A projection I2 of hollow tubular form is formed at the upper end of the outer leg of member 6. This projection extends upwardly through slot I2 so that when the outer leg of member 6 is alternately squeezed towards the inner leg and released, projection I2 will move back and forth in the slot.

Lid arm 4 is provided with a cam slot I4 eX- tending outwardly along the arm from a point adjacent pivot pin 5. Slot I 4 as shown is disposed at an angle to guide slot I I and is disposed to receive projection I2. Thus, when the outer leg of U-shaped member 6 is squeezed towards the inner leg, projection I2 coacts with a side of slot Il to turn lid 2 on its pivot 5 to a position to uncover the tumbler. When the squeeze pressure is released, the outer arm returns to its normal position and the lid to closed position.

I prefer to make U-shaped member 6, hook 8 and flange I0 from a single blank of spring like metal, such as steel or rustless steel or iron. The

' connecting bend I'I at the bottom of member 6 serves as a spring hinge which is biased to normally close lid 2. The portions of the inner and outer legs above bend Il may be formed with stiffening ribs I8, the ribs terminating short of the upper ends of the legs.

At a convenient point above bend Il, the inner leg may be formed with upwardly and downwardly projecting tabs I9 and 2E), on opposite sides of the inner leg by means of which spring clamp I may be attached thereto.

As shown, tabs I9 and 20 are bent or clinched over the top and bottom edges of the clamp to secure it firmly to the inner or support leg of member 6. The rivet-like projection I2 may be formed by curling the upper end of the outer leg of member 6 in any suitable manner.

The assembly comprising the lid and support and operating mechanism therefore, has many uses. It may be applied to jelly and preserve glasses that have been opened, to protect the contents when in a refrigerator or when on a table. The lid will eiectively keep flies and insects from the contents. It may be used to cover glasses containing juices and left-overs; it may be used on glasses containing refreshments of various kinds particularly Where the refreshments are being consumed out of doors, as at picnics, bridge tables, etc. In such cases the glasses or tumblers may be set down between sips without danger of flying insects invading the contents of the glasses.

When a sip is to be taken, the user merely grasps the tumbler or glass in the normal way, the fingers being over the outer leg of member 6. To open lid 2, the user squeezes the outer leg of members 6 and the lid swings open in the manner described above. When the 'finger pressure is released, as when the glass is put down for example, the lid is swung to its normal or closed `position automatically by the operating or outer leg of member E.

When 'the invention is employed as a cover for glasses or tumblers containing juices or leftovers" which are placed in refrigerators, saucers and other make shift covers need not be used. Saucers used for such purposes take up excessive space and more frequently are broken because of such use than when used for their intended purpose.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention as illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lid and operating mechanism therefor adapted for attachment to tumblers and the like comprising a lid support having an inverted hook at its upper end adapted to receive the lip of a tumbler and a C-shaped resilient clamp disposed adjacent the lower end of said support adapted to partially embrace a tumbler and resiliently grip the same, a lid rotatably mounted on the upper end of said support, a lever connected at its lower end to said support and `having its upper end free to move by flexing of said lever towards and away from the same, said lid having an arm projecting radially outward from 'the point of rotation of said lid on said support and having a cam slot disposed at an angle to the line of motion of the free end of said lever, the free end of said lever having a projection extending into said slot whereby on fiexing of the lever the lid may be turned to cover and uncover the tumbler.

2. A lid and operating mechanism according to claim l characterized by the fact that the lid is supported to rotate in a plane parallel to the top of a tumbler to which it is attached.

3. A lid and operating mechanism according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the lever and support is a unitary assembly comprising a strip of spring metal of substantially U-shape forming inner and outer legs, the inverted hook being at the top of the inner leg and adapted to hang on the lip of a tumbler and that a flange extends from said inner leg towards and overlies the upper end of the outer leg of said U- shaped member, said ange having a guide slot extending at substantially right angles to said legs, that the lid is pivotally securedxto said flange at a point adjacent said inner leg and that the arm on said lid over-lies said flange, the slot in said arm extending from a point adjacent said pivot rearwardly thereof and at an angle to the slot in said ange, the upper end of said outer leg having a pin-like projection extending 4 through said slots whereby on flexing of the outer leg of said U-shaped member the lid is turned about its pivot.

4. A lid and operating mechanism according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said support, lever, and hook are a unitary assembly comprising a U-shaped member having inner and outer legs, the inner leg of which is the support member, a flange integral with the upper -end portion of said inner leg and extending laterally therefrom and overlying the upper end of the outer leg of said U-shaped member, the flange having a guide slot through which a projection of the upper end of the outer leg extends, the inner and outer legs being provided with stiffening ribs extending between the connecting bend at the bottom vof said legs to a point adjacent their upper ends, said connecting bend serving as a 'spring hinge joint between said members.

5. A lid and operating mechanism therefor adapted for attachment to tumbler-s and the like comprising a lid support having an inverted hook at its upper end adapted to receive the lip of a tumbler and a C-shaped resilient clamp disposed adjacent the lower end of said support adapted to partially embrace a tumbler and resiliently grip the same, 'said support vhaving a flange extending laterally and rearwardly therefrom, a lid rotatably mounted Von said flange at a Vpoint adjacent said hook and in 'a plane disposed substantially at a right angle to said support, said fiange having a guide slot therein extending longitudinally thereof, a lever connected at its lower end to said support and having its upper end free to move by flexing of said lever towards and away from the same, 'said lid having an arm projecting radially outward from the point of rotation of said lid on said flange and having a cam slot disposed at 'an angle to said guide slot, the free end of said lever having a projection extending through said slots whereby on flexing of the lever the lid may be turned to cover and uncovej` the tumbler.

'6. A lid and operating mechanism according to claim 5 characterized by Vthe fact that said support, le'ver, and hook are a unitary assembly comprising a U-shaped member forming .inner and outer legs, the inner leg of which is the 'support member, a ia'n'ge 'integral with the upper 'end portion of `said inner leg and extending laterally Vtherefrom and overlying the upper end of the outer leg of said U-'shap'e'd member, the inner and outer legs being provided with stiifening ribs extending between the Vconnecting bend at the bottom of -said legs to 'a point adjacent their upper-ends, said connectin'gbend serving as a spring hinge joint between 'said members.

GEORGE S. BRETNEY.

REFERENCES CITED AThe Vfollowing references are of record in the le of thispatent: y

UNITED STATES kIEZYIENTS Number Name Date 563,012 Campbell June `30, 1896 764,225 Burchett July 5, 1904 862,802 VIBrugel Aug. 6, 1907 950,456 Osborn Feb. 22,1910 962;874 Amberson lJune 28, 1910 1,080,366 Pick Dec. 2, 1913 A1,763,125 Baron June l0, 1930 

